To do what? It's probably not illegal to go to a party and pretend to strangers that you were once a police officer rather than working in a library. Well, it might be but no one would give a shit. It's probably illegal to pretend to be one for some form of gain.

This has been bugging me and, as I work in this field, I've just had to look it up!

Under the Police Act 1996 s.90(1):

Any person who with intent to deceive impersonates a member of a police force or special constable, or makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he is such a member or constable, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.

S.2 makes it illegal to wear a uniform to pretend to be an officer too.

But not retired officers! So knock yourself out, sixlostmonkeys, though I can't for the life of me imagine what pretending to be a retired officer would achieve

I've just been to the police station and asked. It is definitely illegal to impersonate a retired police officer.

hehe it's not me wants to impersonate! I am victim of harassment from someone who now claims (on official court papers no less) to be a retired police officer.They want money from me - so yes, this is fraud.

Blimey! Still amazed that this person is claiming to be a retired police officer, what a bizarre thing, of all the jobs they could claim why that? What an idiot to lie on court papers. Hope this all works out for you.

honestly - you do not want to know any more details. I am dealing with the most bizarre woman!> she created a man to send intimidating emails telling me to send money to the woman. then the pretend man claims on court papers that he is retired police officer blah blah

see! you don't want to know

In all seriousness though - this is taking up a lot of my time and is really getting me down

Its a difficult one. Dad is a retired officer and says its not an offence. How what happening here is fraud. sp the man may be charged with attempted fraud. But can not be charged with impersonating a retired officer. There is not such offence. The offence is impersonating an officer.

As a serving police officer I would have to argue that one!!As nefertarii says and I mentioned before, there is no specific offence for impersonating a retired police officer. However there are fraud offences which appear to have been committed. Maybe the officers you spoke to weren't very clear?

If you have to submit a defense for something I take it you are also going through civil proceedings? Have you got your own solicitor for this?

I believe you both - though I won't be correcting the policeman who told me (because he was big and scary!)

They can't charge him anyway because he doesn't exist. He put his signature to the papers though.Ask your dad if if someone who doesn't exist can be charged with putting his signature to official papers, harassment/threats and intimidation.No, seriously don't (he'll think you have lost the plot)

Justasmallgless - the officer I spoke to, when I said "is it an offense to impersonate a retired police officer?" replied swiftly "It most certainly is!"

BUt, like i said, I believe you.

I am submitting a defense for a county court claim - I have had to approach the police though because the person involved is seriously up to no good (and I want it all ending now....it's having too much impact on my life)